99, of Grand Marais, passed away peacefully Friday, October 29, 2011 in the Cook County North Shore Care Center.
Olga, the daughter of the late Ole and Anna Allen, grew up in Grand Marais, received a teaching certificate from Mankato State College and taught in the Tofte School. For years she was the chief operator of the Bell Telephone switchboard, which was located in her home in Tofte, until the phone system went dial in 1954. Olga was an active member in Zoar Lutheran Church in Tofte and later Bethlehem Lutheran Church and especially enjoyed being part of the “Bookies” at Bethlehem. She also was active in the Eastern Star for many years, as well as the West End Garden Club.
Olga is preceded in death by her parents; husband Chester of 57 years; brothers Einar Allen and Clarence Allen and sisters, Judy Thompson,
Mabel Lund and Margaret
Anderson.
She is survived by sister Irene Peterson; children Donald Erickson (Jan), Gene Erickson (Barbara), Dorothy Gense (Clair) and Leslie Elza (Jim); 10 grandchildren; 16 great-grandchildren and many nieces and nephews.
In lieu of flowers, memorials may be made to Bethlehem Lutheran Church, 417 1st Avenue W., Grand Marais, MN 55604; Zoar Lutheran Church, PO Box 2098, Tofte MN 55615; or the Cook County North Shore Care Center, 515 Avenue W., Grand Marais, MN 55604.
A memorial service will be held at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday, November 5 at Bethlehem Lutheran Church in Grand Marais. Burial will be in Maple Hill Cemetery. Our gentle mother will be missed, but our wonderful memories will remain.
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